EditVon der Leyen faces no-confidence vote in European Parliament amid Pfizergate
While the vote is largely symbolic, it highlights growing discontent with the Commission President's leadership
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will confront a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament on 10 July, following a debate on her leadership in Strasbourg on 7 July, according to six officials cited by Politico.
This marks the first such challenge to a Commission president in over a decade, driven by controversies including the Pfizergate scandal and accusations of political opportunism and aligning with far-right groups.
While the vote is largely symbolic due to insufficient support to pass, it highlights growing discontent with von der Leyen’s leadership. The motion, if successful, would force the resignation of the entire Commission and trigger a complex process to appoint 27 new commissioners.
Pfizergate context
The no-confidence motion, tabled by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea of the far-right AUR party within the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, secured 79 signatures – exceeding the required 72 – to proceed. It primarily stems from the Pfizergate scandal, where von der Leyen is accused of negotiating a €35 billion deal for 1.8 billion Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses via private text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A July 2024 ruling by the EU’s General Court found that the Commission breached transparency laws by withholding these messages, fuelling criticism of von der Leyen’s accountability.
EU court rules against von der Leyen in Pfizer case, exposing her fragility amid mounting challenges
The European Ombudsman labelled the Commission’s refusal to search for the texts as “maladministration,” and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the vaccine procurement process. Critics, including Piperea, highlight that less than 20% of the doses were used, with the remainder potentially wasted, costing the EU billions.
Beyond Pfizergate, the motion reflects broader frustrations with von der Leyen’s leadership style and political maneuvering. Socialists and liberals, key supporters of her 2019 and 2024 elections, are outraged over her decision to cancel a climate-friendly anti-greenwashing law, accusing her of siding with far-right groups like the ECR and Patriots for Europe to dilute the EU’s Green Deal.
This move strained the centrist coalition of the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists, and Renew Europe, which narrowly secured her second term with 401 votes in July 2024. Critics, including departing MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld, argue that von der Leyen’s centralized decision-making and reluctance to face scrutiny – evidenced by her absence from a Pfizergate court hearing – undermine democratic accountability.
The no-confidence vote against von der Leyen will be conducted by secret ballot, as is standard for such motions under the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (Rule 127). This secrecy allows MEPs to vote without public or party pressure, potentially enabling individuals from mainstream groups like the EPP, Socialists, or Renew Europe to vote against von der Leyen without fear of reprisal.
Historical flashback: The Santer Commission resignation
The only precedent for a Commission resignation occurred in 1999 under President Jacques Santer, marking a rare instance of EU institutional accountability.
The Santer Commission faced allegations of fraud, nepotism, and mismanagement, particularly involving Commissioner Édith Cresson, who was accused of appointing unqualified associates to lucrative posts. A Committee of Independent Experts, established by the European Parliament, confirmed widespread irregularities, prompting intense pressure. Facing a likely no-confidence vote in March 1999, Santer preemptively resigned with his entire Commission to avoid a formal ousting, as the motion required a two-thirds majority (then 626 MEPs) to pass. This remains the sole instance of a Commission falling en masse, a high bar that underscores the unlikelihood of von der Leyen’s Commission facing a similar fate, given the current motion’s limited support.
Political dynamics
The no-confidence vote, while unlikely to succeed, exposes von der Leyen’s fragile parliamentary support. Her EPP, the largest group, has vowed to vote against the motion, with leader Manfred Weber calling it “irresponsible.”
However, some EPP members, including Slovenian delegates, and 32 ECR members, alongside far-right groups like Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations, back the motion, reflecting internal divisions.
The Socialists and Renew Europe, despite their criticisms, are expected to uphold the centrist coalition to avoid institutional chaos, especially amid global instability with Russia’s war in Ukraine and potential shifts in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump.
Von der Leyen’s relationship with the Parliament has been tense since her narrow 2019 election (383 votes, just above the 374 needed). Though she is expected to survive the vote, the debate will force her to publicly address Pfizergate and her leadership style, potentially deepening political rifts.
With Politico and agencies, edited by g.g.
Caption: Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, speaks during a debate on ‘EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine’ at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 7 May 2025. The current plenary session runs from 05 to 08 May 2025. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Updated: July 3, 2025 - 06:27
